Leaving the emergency services wasn’t something Megan Shacklett ever planned. But when her injuries made continuing impossible, she had to learn how to rebuild a life without the uniform, structure and purpose she had known.
It wasn’t easy, but today she reflects on how far she’s come: “There were times I wouldn’t leave my house. Now I can go out and do things. I know it’s going to be okay.” This is the story of how Shacklett learned to live with PTSD, redefined her identity and found a new way to keep serving others.
Megan Shacklett always knew she wanted to help others. From a young age, she was surrounded by role models who were passionate about service. Her grandfather was a member of the Flying Tigers during World War II, her father served in the Army and later became a fire captain and she also has an uncle and cousin who were firefighters.
When it came time for her to choose a career, she trained to become an emergency medical technician (EMT). After achieving that goal, she worked hard to earn her paramedic license.
Megan was incredibly dedicated to the field, but after twenty-three years, she had no choice but to leave it behind after sustaining a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries. Her life dramatically changed. She didn’t know how she would go about coping with this.
Megan knew it would be difficult to adjust, so she began going to therapy, with the understanding that talking about what she had gone through could be helpful.
Jennifer Mittleman
As an EMT, she not only helped patients this way but also helped her coworkers. Even after she left the field and moved, she continued getting calls from her former coworkers when they needed advice or to vent.
As she adapted to her new reality, Megan faced the challenge of learning to live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her whole life and sense of identity were changed. It was “horrendously difficult” as she was used to a specific routine, wearing a certain uniform and being around her coworkers daily.
Although the field comes with unpredictability, it was an unpredictability she had become familiar with- she had to get used to a new normal. Megan asked herself, “What is my identity? How am I relevant?”
One thing she knew was that she wanted to continue to serve others.
A few years later, Megan was seeing a therapist who suggested that she get a service dog. Megan had always thought about getting a service dog but had always found programs that were too costly or only served veterans.
Still, she decided to revisit the idea: “One day, I just decided to open my computer again, and I Googled ‘service dogs for first responders,’ and America’s VetDogs popped up first. When I clicked on the website, I burst into tears. I knew I found the right place.”
Megan was pleasantly surprised to learn that America’s VetDogs does provide service dogs to first responders with disabilities. She contacted the consumer services office, which helped her complete her application. She eagerly awaited an update.
Once someone completes the application process, they wait for a call, letting them know a match has been found.
Megan explains that you must exercise patience during this period and trust that the staff are trying their absolute best to find the perfect match for each person.
In 2019, Megan received a phone call from America’s VetDogs letting her know she was invited to their campus in Smithtown, New York, to be part of the September class.
In the months leading up, she says that the America’s VetDogs staff made sure she was taken care of. They helped her arrange her trip to campus and ensured she was well-informed of what was to come.
America’s VetDogs believes it’s important to support first responders after their courageous service. That’s why they provide their service dogs free of charge, including transportation to and from their campus. People travel from all over the country to begin a new chapter with their specially trained dogs.
When clients arrive on campus for their two-week stay, trainers teach them the foundations of being a service dog handler. Then, they meet their service dog and learn how to navigate life together.
The trainers work hard to ensure each person is paired with a dog that fits their needs and lifestyle. They consider things like walking pace, living environment, daily life and personality.
Jennifer Mittleman
Megan was matched with Betty, a black Labrador retriever. Meeting Betty was one of the greatest moments of her life: “Everything I’d hoped for was right in front of me, waiting on the other end of a leash to just be there for me, and that’s still the case. Whether it is getting lunch with a friend or going to a doctor’s appointment, Betty is right there and ready to work. That’s how she’s been since I met her.”
Megan still remembers one of the key moments that made her realize her life was different with Betty by her side.
Megan had just had a back procedure and when she walked into her home, she dropped her phone and could not bend over to pick it up. She panicked for a moment but then remembered her service dog was there to help: . “I just looked at Betty and gave the command — and she picked my phone up off the floor and handed it to me.”
Some other important tasks that Betty often performs are pushing automatic door buttons and extending Megan’s personal space in crowds.
The dogs have many skills, including a popular one called “rest,” in which the dog gently rests its head on the handler’s lap and makes eye contact to bring a sense of calmness and provide a grounding moment.
For Megan Shacklett, being matched with a service dog was more than just receiving support; it was a turning point.
Jennifer Mittleman
It gave her the confidence to step back into the world and continue living with purpose. She uses her experience to help others by spreading the word about America’s VetDogs and their mission.
Megan and Betty have become a dynamic duo, now working together to help educate others about America’s VetDogs, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence.
Even if she is walking in a grocery store and somebody begins asking questions about Betty, Megan takes the time to make sure each person gets answers. She even carries around information cards to hand out.
When Megan first arrived on campus, she was nervous. She didn’t know what to expect, but she came out of the experience with special friendships.
She describes her classmates as some of the most amazing people she has ever met: “We just understand each other and are there to support each other without question. I am so grateful that I was able to see the other people in my class get the same gift that I received.”
She says she keeps in touch with most people from her class. Her story is just one of many that shows how America’s VetDogs empowers first responders and veterans to reclaim their independence.
When asked what advice she has for other first responders who are thinking about applying for a service dog, Megan emphasizes not to second-guess yourself: “Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Start filling out the application now. The greatest gift is on the other side. None of us come out of this job unscathed. We all have trauma and we all are worthy of having something to help us through that.”
Since its founding in 2003, VetDogs has placed over 1,100 service dogs with veterans or first responders with disabilities, free of charge. Through compassion, training and an unshakable belief in the people they serve, America’s VetDogs is changing lives—one partnership at a time.
